Method and apparatus for floating and repairing stranded vessels.



H. B. SAUNDERS. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOATING AND REPAIRING STRANDEDVESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1913.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

wi lmeoaeo H. B. SAUNDERS. I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLOATING ANDREPAIRING STRANDED VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED SE'PTA 9, 101a,

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z Vlllllllll:

Mommas H. 13. SAUNDERS. METHOD AND APPA RATUS FOB. FLOATING ANDREPAIRING STRANDED VESSELS.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1913 1,089,967.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

O O O O O Q 0 O o o Q o O O o O O 0 O O O O O O Q Q ITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HERBERT B. SAUNDERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD AND APP AIRATUS FOR FLOATING AND REIAIRING STRANDED VESsELS.

I '0. all whom it may concern Be, it known that I, I'IERBERT B. SAUN--DERS,'21 citizen of Great-Britain, residing-at New-York, in.the countyof New York and "StateofNew York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods anderkpparatus"for F loatinggand RepairingStranded Vessels; and I do declare the fol lowing to be affull, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as'will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to method and ap p'aratus forraising or removingstranded or Sunken vessels and more particularly for the floating ofstranded or partlally submerged vessels where the injury causing thewrecked condition is 'due to the leakage of water into the hold eitherthrough a hole stove therein or through openings formed by other causes.

In its broad comprehension this improved method involves the treatmentof the wrecked vessel torender the compartment or hold. where the in uryhas occurred air-tight or substantially so; the introduction into saidhold or compartment of air, under pressure to expel the water; in theprovision of-means for permitting access of the workmen into the holdwhi e the pressure is maintained.

therein and in meansfor overcoming the pulsation caused by the contactof the compressed air and the water at the acute point of the wound inthe vessel.

lVith-these andother objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction,and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevationpartly in section of a stranded vessel resting on arock with a holestove in one of the compartments or holds and the latter filled withwater; Fig. 2 represents a transverse section show ing' the compartmentrendered air-tight to receive the air pressure and braced to stand theinternal strain; Fig. 3 represents an en larged sectional view of one ofthe equalinins-g pipes fitted directly over a wound or opening in thebottom of a compartment; Fig. 4 is a top plan view ofthesteel hatchplate; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on the line 55of Fig. 4 show- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1Ia1" 10,1914, A Application filed September 9, 191a. SerlalNo.

hull 1 is shown divided into compartments 2 one of which has a hole 3stove therein andwhich compartment is filled with water causing thevessel to settle. compartment is. provided with the, usual hatchway 4.

In applying this improved method. the

The leaking first step is to brace or strengthen the top or deck portionQof the hold containing the leaky compartment so that it willwithstandwithout injury the internal pressure to which it will be subjected whenair under pressure isihtroduced. This strengthening may be accomplishedin any appropriate.

manner. The-compartment 2yhaving the hole 3 therein is next cl'osedair-tight-by the application to the hatchway 4 of a steel hatchway plate5. .This plate 5 is applied against the edge of the 'coaming onthe-underside thereof, a rubber gasket 'b'ein interposed to form a tightjoint. In applying the plate or covering 5 and its gasket, suitablemeans should be employed for holding the plate temporarily against thecoaming be fore the air pressure is turned on. After the" plate 5 hasbeen drawn into position, the inner side of the joint may be protectedwith,

a suitable cement, if desired or found necessary. After the air pressurehas been turned on it will act to bind the plate tightly against thecoaming and effect an air-tight joint. If there are other communicationsof the injured compartment with the outside such as port holes, funnels,etc, these. are also closed air-tightby appropriate means. The next stepin the methodis to provide for the access-into the compartment ofworkmen while the pressure is maintained therein so that an inspectionof the injured compartment may be, made and, if necessary, the leaksrepaired. This is effected by the applic'ation preferably to thehatchway plate 5 of an air lock 8 such as is employed in connection withcaissons and consisting of a chamber 9 .here shown cylindrical with adoor 10 communicating with .the outside and a second door 11communicating with the hold. Care should be taken to see that the jointsand doors at the top and bottom of the lock are made workable andair-tight. Suitable inlet and outlet valves 12 and 13 are tted in thelock and are provided with electric light bulbs. preferably equippedwith high and low air pressure connections la and 15., steam andwaterfittings 16 and 17 and electric light and telephone fittings 18 and19 whereby the work within the compartment may be facilitated avoidingthe necessity of the workmen going in and out. The next step in themethod consists in introducing air un- 4 der pressure into thecompartment in order is to expel the water which has leaked thereinto.This may be accomplished in any appropriate manner. As shown in Fig. 1an air compressor 20 is mounted on the upper deck or in any appropriatelocation and is 20 driven by a suitable engine, the compressor beingconnected by a pipe 21 with an air receiving tank 22 having a coil. ofwater pipe 23 disposed therein for the passage of cold water designed tochill or cool the air pass ing through the tank out of the pipe 24: andpassing into the leaking compartment. A safety valve 25 is disposed inthe pipe 21 and an equalizing pipe 26 is fitted on said valve so that inthe event ot the air pressure rising so suddenly which often occurs whenthe wounded parts of the vessel under repair on the inside are covered,the excess air will immediately escape and the required or reg ularpressure be maintained within the compartment. This receiver 22 isstrongly built to withstand with-safety the pressures of air to which itmust be subjected and the coils of water pipe therein are connected witha small circulating pump (not shown), for pumping chilled water throughthe coils within the. tank for cooling the air therein. If the air wasforced directly from the compressor into the hold or compartment withoutpassing through such receiver, it would in a very short time afterentering the compartmentunder pressure become very dense orfoggedthereby greatly interfering with the work of the'men if notrendering it impossible. The use of the receiver above referred toavoids this difficulty.

It has been found that at the point of contact of the compressed air andthe water within the injured compartment a very vigorous pulsation isset up which renders it nearly impossible to-obtain the adhering of theconcrete or other patch tothe steel plates and hence to overcome this'diiiiculty internal equalizing pipes 26 have been introduced. Theseequalizing pipes 26 are each formed from an ordinary three and a halfinch iron pipe about three feet long, more or 7 less, and having aflanged socket 27 screwed to the lower end thereof. The flange 28 of"this socket is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 into whichwooden blocks 30 This hatchway plate 5 is insane? about two inches inlength are driven and which are designed to rest on the steel plate atthe bottom Of'thG compartment around the wound or opening 3 therein toproperly space the flange 28 from said plate or bottom of thecompartment to permit the air and water to pulsate freely under thisflange and to pass up into the pipe 26. Under this flange 28 a leadjacket or apron 31 is fitted, the equalizing pipe 26 being placed-in avertical position immediately over the wound the restricted area of saidpipe or pipes 26/ As soon as the concrete patch. has hardened the upperend of the pipe is fitted with a cap 33 preferably screwed thereon thusclosing the equalizer and making a perfectly tight patch which willwithstand any pressure to which the ordinary vessel is subject ed. Afterthe equalizing pipes 26 have been placed in position, any desired numberof which may be used, the compressed air is admitted to the woundedcompartment through the pipe 21 and the water will be expelled throughthe opening 3. While the pressure is maintained workmen, through themedium of the air lock 8, may enter thehold and make such repairs as maybe necessary. WVhen the wounds have been repaired to prevent the furtheraccess of water into the compartment the water remaining may be removedin any suitable manner either by pumps or by blowing it out through thescuttle pipes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of treating leaking stranded vessels which consists insealing substantially air-tight the usual communication of the leakingcompartment with the outside, permitting entrance to said compartmentunder air pressure in excess of that of the atmospheric ir, introducingair under pres-,

sure into said compartment to expel the leaking water, and confining toa restricted area in said compartment the pulsations caused by thecontact of the air and water within the compartment. i

2. A method of treating leaking stranded vessels which consists insealing substan tially air-tight the usual communication of the leakingcompartment with the outside, permitting entrance to said compartmentunder-air pressure in excess of that of the atmospheric air, introducingair under pressure into said compartment to expel the leaking water,cooling the compressed air before ad mittine' it to the compartment, and

ralit of a )ertures siacilm' elements airranged in said apertures forholding said base spaced from its support, and an apron' disposedbetween said base and the support on which said base rests.

4. A device for confining to a restricted area the pulsations within acompartment caused by the contact of compressed air and water comprisinga pipe having a flanged base provided with a plurality of apertures,spacing'elements arranged in said apertures for holding said base spacedfrom its support, an apron adapted to be clamped to the Gupta! 0! t hhp'a'teht may be obtained for five centl each, by nddreuing theCommmloner to! Patents,

- walhinztozn, D. O.

support on which said base rests, and removable means for closing theupper end of said pipe.

The combination with a vessel having an opening in one wall thereof, ofan equalizlng device comprising a plpe having a flanged base disposedover said opening, spacing elements extending from the lower face ofsaid base and adapted to rest on the wall of said vessel around saidopening, and

a lead apron secured to said wall and ex-' tending under said flangedbase.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HERBERT B. SAUNDERS.

Witnesses HARRY S. HILL, FRANK Pownn.

